August 22, 2025
1 min read
When I attended Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I was pre-med mainly for the fun of getting to say, “I’m pre-med,” with little understanding of the actual “-med” part.
I loved my public health classes and infectious disease epidemiology classes. What could be more fun than tracing the infectious gastroenteritis to the potato salad at the picnic?
When I took an interdisciplinary seminar on tuberculosis with legendary F&M professor Dick Fluck, I recall sitting in his office bemoaning my future: “I just wish there was a type of medicine where I could see only patients with infections!” To my eternal delight, Professor Fluck turned to me and said, “Sara, there is! They are called infectious disease doctors!” That was the exact moment I was hooked.
From that afternoon on, I have dedicated my career to chasing microbes and trying to recruit friends to this field! Infectious diseases has proven to be the most exciting, breathtaking and rewarding choice I have ever made. I am so grateful to all the science teachers who taught me to keep asking questions!
Sara K. Schultz, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FCPP
Professor of Medicine
Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program Director
Vice Chair, Academic Affairs, Department of Medicine
Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Temple University
